He was very aware that for such a beautiful woman Vanessa was a bit insecure. She was holding on tight and sticking close to him ever since she saw Maleeyah. He didn�t know of it was her young age or him. It was always fodder for the tabloids but the girls did seem, at times, like they were strung out on him.
When he and Mariah called it quits people blew it out of proportion but she did try to hold on a little longer. The same thing happened with the lingerie model, the actress and the random pretty girl whose career he still wasn�t sure of. There were only two who had a bit of dignity about them, Lara and Jordana. And really, they were both just as ready to be done with him as he was to be done with them. He wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that they were the most educated women he had dated. Did that mean that he couldn�t keep an intelligent woman interested?
He hadn�t told Vanessa that Maleeyah had been with them for the week. He knew it would be a subject of argument especially when she found out Ben and Maleeyah really were just friends.
�I�m going to change. I�ll be back baby.� She pecked him on the lips and went back into the house.
He went over and joined Jack, Maleeyah and Ben over in the lounge chairs. He sat at the foot of Maleeyah�s chair, which presented the most room for him.
�What are you guys talking about?�
He looked at them all and Maleeyah was the only one that wasn�t looking at him. He knew it had everything to do with Vanessa. She was probably pissed that he was with that girl and now he was with Vanessa. Some women had a strange sense of loyalty with other women. Then the others didn�t give a damn about their fellow women when it came to men.
Ben answered, �Talking about going to The Underground.� He nodded at Derek, �You�ll probably be with Vanessa right?�
�Yeah but we�ll probably hang out with you guys.�
�I�m heading in. I need something to eat.� Jack left and he took over his spot. The last thing he needed was for Vanessa to see him sitting so close to Maleeyah.
He never felt the need to tap dance for a woman and he was never afraid of hurting them but he didn�t play with fire. You never know what a woman�s boiling point is until you�ve reached it, and by then its too late. That�s what his father told him and he never forgot it.
�Maleeyah, do you have your camera out here?�
She nodded, �Yeah, its on the table.�
Ben jumped up and grabbed, then held it out to Derek,
�Hey do you mind taking pictures of us? We don�t have any together.�
He nodded and took the camera, following as Ben led Maleeyah towards the beach. He picked a spot where they were still on the perfect green grass but the white sands and blue ocean were in the background. It was like a picture in a catalog.
He took pictures as they created different poses then they were joined by Vanessa.
�You two make a great couple.�
She stood next to him, with her hand on his back. No one bothered to correct her on the couple comment and he was thankful. He would tell her himself, while they were alone, that Ben and Maleeyah were just friends�and she had been there the entire week.
After a couple of more shots, he handed the camera to Maleeyah.
�Thanks.� She said to him but she didn�t seem to look at him. He stopped himself and thought about all the analysis he was giving the situation. He had to wonder if he was imagining everything.
Vanessa wrapped her arm around his and led him back towards the pool.
�What are we doing for the rest of the day?�
He shrugged, �Whatever you want.�
They sat down on a lounge chair and she propped her head on his shoulder, her hand on his thigh,
�I want to be alone with you; just the two of us. You can show me all the best boutiques, a romantic dinner, walk on the beach�� She left the end of her statement open; her fingernail traced lines on his cheek and chin.
He looked into her big round eyes. She had great eyes. But once he snapped out of his trance and looked at her he noticed she was staring at him like she always did; like a seventh grader with a crush on her English teacher. He did wonders for his ego, he really got off on it but he knew it would make it that much harder when it was time for him to end it.
�I have few ideas but let me get dressed and then we can leave.�
She was dressed in a red dress, a little one of course, with beading around the neckline. He definitely wasn�t dressed to go anywhere with her.
She leaned in closer while moving his face into position. His lips met hers and he could taste her fruit flavored lip-gloss that made her lips so shiny. At first, they just kissed lightly but it turned deeper and soon their tongues were in each other�s mouths.
027 | No Ordinary Girl